Our TeamSutter Center for Psychiatry

John Boyd, Psy.D., MHA, Chief Executive Officer, Sacramento Sierra Region Behavioral Health Services and Continuing Care, is responsible for providing strategic leadership for Sutter Center for Psychiatry and Regional Behavioral Health. He holds a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Southern California and a doctorate in psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. Prior to joining Sutter in 2008, Dr. Boyd held positions as an assistant administrator of operations, hospital administrative director, and as the director of development for Shriner’s Hospitals for Children International Headquarters in Tampa, Fla. Dr. Boyd also worked as both an inpatient and outpatient therapist in several organizations throughout his career. In addition, Dr. Boyd served as a planning commissioner for the City of Sacramento and currently serves on the board of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO). Currently, he serves as one of the commissioners on the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.

Cindy Thygeson, M.D., Director of Medical Affairs, focuses on the advancement of patient-centric care, assuring the quality and success of programs and services provided by Sutter Center for Psychiatry. Dr. Thygeson joined Sutter in 2009 to support development of consultation-liaison psychiatry and psychiatric response team services in the regional acute care hospitals. She is an alumna of the Scholars Program of the University of Maryland, with a degree in neurophysiology, and has a doctorate in medicine from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California. Dr. Thygeson held residency in psychiatry and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore. She is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry.

Ernell Antonio, R.N., MBA, Director of Operations, is responsible for educational and staff development activities, including behavioral health competency training for the regional acute care centers as well as regulatory accreditation compliance at Sutter Center for Psychiatry. Ernell joined Sutter in 2012, bringing experience as a psychiatric facility director of clinical services and chief nursing officer. Ernell holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from California State University, Hayward, and an MBA from Saint Mary's College of California.

Jawad Arif, M.D., General and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, has a special interest treating post-traumatic stress, anxiety and mood disorders. His previous experience includes providing inpatient and emergency psychiatric care at Danbury Hospital and the Institute of Living, Hartford Hospital, Connecticut. Dr. Arif earned his medical degree at Sindh Medical College, Pakistan. Dr. Arif completed his general psychiatry residency at West Virginia University, Charleston, and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Connecticut. He is board certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and currently serves as the Medical Staff Chief for Sutter Center for Psychiatry.

Robert L. Blanco, M.D., General, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, has been practicing at Sutter Center for Psychiatry since 1982 with special interests in psychoanalytic psychotherapy and interventional psychiatry. He received his medical degree from Hahneman Medical College, Drexel University, and completed his residency and fellowship at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Blanco is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry.

I-Hung Chen, M.D., General and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Emory University and a medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. He completed his residency in general psychiatry and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Tennessee, Health Science Center in Memphis, Tenn.

Theodore Goodman, M.D., General Psychiatrist, has practiced at Sutter Center for Psychiatry since 1990 focusing on treatment-resistant patient care for 25 years and maintains an active interest in research. Dr. Goodman specializes in interventional psychiatric procedures, including electroconvulsive therapy, vagal nerve stimulation, ketamine infusion therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation and deep brain stimulation. Previously, Dr. Goodman served as the chairman of the department of psychiatry and well-being committee for Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. He holds a bachelor’s degree in humanities from Wesleyan University, Connecticut and completed his medical degree at the University of California, San Diego. He completed his residency in psychiatry at University of California, Davis, subsequently serving UC Davis as an assistant professor of psychiatry and the department’s biologic research director.

William H. Hughes, M.D., Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, joined Sutter for Psychiatry in 2002, bringing previous experience as the director of adolescent services and specialized foster care director for several Sacramento region facilities. His special area of interest is in educating parents, staff and residents in behavior management and is the author of “Raising Kids Without a Fight,” published by Johns Hopkins University Press in 2009. Dr. Hughes completed undergraduate studies at the University of San Francisco and his medical degree at Tulane University School of Medicine. In addition, he completed a residency in general psychiatry at University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, and another in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, also in Baltimore. Dr. Hughes is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Raheel Khan, D.O., is a board certified psychiatrist with a special interest in psychosomatic medicine. He earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Khan completed his residency in psychiatry at Ohio State University Medical Center and a fellowship in psychosomatic medicine at the University of California, Davis. After completing his fellowship, Dr. Khan joined the faculty of the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine as an assistant professor of psychosomatic medicine.

Kristin Lawson, PHR, Human Resources Manager, provides strategic human resource leadership and partnership to Sutter Center for Psychiatry, Sutter Senior Care, Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, and other programs within the Valley Division of Sutter Health. Within in the mental health and continuing care services, she oversees the Human Resources operations including the deployment of HR policies, programs, and employee relations. Kristin, a US Navy Veteran, joined Sutter in 2005, bringing with her a multifaceted Human Resource background. She did her undergraduate studies in Business Management from St. Mary's College of California where she further received her Master's Degree in Leadership.

Joe Sharpe, MHA, Director of Access and Community Outreach, focuses on building collaborative relationships with community-based groups and the mental health community through outreach efforts on behalf of Sutter Center for Psychiatry. Joe joined Sutter Health in 2012, bringing experience as a regional sales manager in the home health care sector, working directly in the hospice field, and serving as a branch operations manager for a nationwide home care organization. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Diego State University and a master's degree in health administration from Ohio University.

Jeff Symon, R.N., MHA, Director of Patient Care Services, provides oversight for nursing and central intake departments. Prior to joining Sutter Health in 2011, Jeff was the administrator of a psychiatric facility and has previous experiences as a director of clinical services, director of psychiatric services at Bayou City Medical Center, and director of nursing at Houston International Hospital. He holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in health administration from Houston Baptist University in Texas.

Archana Trivedi, M.D., completed residency in psychiatry at the University of Arizona, where she served as Chief Resident. She also completed residency in psychiatry at the Central Institute of Psychiatry in India after earning her degree in medicine from the North Bengal Medical College of India.

Zafar Uddin, M.D., completed a doctorate in medicine at Dow Medical College, Pakistan. Subsequently, he worked as a medical officer for five years and dedicated the next few years in the area of medical research. He completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of Mississippi, Jackson, and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Texas, Austin. Dr. Uddin is board certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.